580 Calumet Ln, Dayton, OH 45417
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580 Calumet Ln, Dayton, OH 45417
"Success comes to the underdog who doesn't let sleeping dogs lie...
Dayton’s First Fashion Design School – Coming 2026
A Midwest Fashion Education Milestone
In 2026, (DE-FI) Global INC will partner with the Milwaukee-based Edessa School of Fashion to launch the first accredited fashion design school in Dayton’s history. This groundbreaking program will put Dayton on the map as a Midwest hub for fashion education blending design innovation, technical expertise, and industry business skills. Our mission is to prepare the next generation of designers to excel in a $2 trillion global industry while fueling Ohio’s garment manufacturing sector and driving sustainable economic growth for the region.
The future of fashion doesn’t start on the runway, it begins in the classroom, the studio, and the community. As part of our continued mission to build a resilient and equitable fashion infrastructure in Southwest Ohio, (DE-FI) Global INC is laying the groundwork for the region’s first fashion design school rooted in ethics, innovation, and community transformation.
Why Dayton? Why Now?
Dayton has long been a cradle of ingenuity and reinvention. From aviation to innovation, the city has a rich legacy of shaping industries. But when it comes to fashion education and garment manufacturing, access has been fragmented, gate-kept, and underdeveloped, until now.
We are in the active planning phase to launch a fashion design school that meets the industry where it’s going, not where it’s been. This initiative will focus on cultivating local talent, creating career pipelines, supporting underserved communities, and connecting fashion education directly to economic development and job creation in our region.
What We're Building
This new school will serve as the cornerstone of a larger, interdisciplinary hub that includes:
- A rigorous, studio-based curriculum focused on both technical skills and creative development
- Integration of sustainable practices through our Farm to Fashion Initiative
- Cross-disciplinary tracks connected to our STEM Atelier, combining material science, engineering, and wearable technology
- Industry-informed instruction led by experienced professionals and creatives from across the country
- Built-in career support, mentorship, and access to micro-manufacturing and professional resources through our existing infrastructure
This is not a cookie-cutter model. It’s designed for today’s emerging designer, technician, and entrepreneur.
Sustainability is at the heart of our educational vision, inspired in part by feedback that we received from Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, who emphasized the critical need for fashion institutions to prioritize ethical production, environmental responsibility, and social impact.
How You Can Support
We are actively seeking founding partners, board members, staff collaborators, and fiscal champions who share our vision of building a fashion education pipeline that is equitable, industry-responsive, and community-rooted. Your support will help us:
- Renovate and expand physical space for classrooms, studios, and labs
- Equip facilities with industry-standard tools and technology
- Provide scholarships and tuition assistance for underserved students
- Recruit and retain qualified faculty and operational staff
- Design a scalable, replicable model for regional growth
Join Us in Shaping What’s Next
This is your opportunity to be a part of something transformative, something that will shape not only the future of Dayton, but the fashion industry itself. We invite funders, foundations, educational partners, local government, and industry leaders to help bring this vision to life.
Let’s reimagine what fashion education can be. Let’s build it together, from the ground up, right here in Dayton. Additional details coming soon.
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The Fiber Forum's Trashion Show Applications Are Live!
Applications are now open for designers interested in showcasing their work in the Trashion Show during (DE-FI) Fashion Week’s Fiber Forum on September 16th in Strategic Partnership with the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub. If you're ready to turn trash into couture, submit your application by August 30.